For the past three years, the Miss Gay Illinois State pageant has been held at Chester Street Bar in Champaign. The 2017 pageant winner was announced after a series of performances Sunday.

Marcus Wilder, whose stage name is Ceduxion Carrington, is currently the show director for drag shows at Chester Street Bar. Wilder said there are numerous logistics that must be in order for the pageant to run smoothly.

Danny Calexus, Wilder’s “drag daughter” and current pageant owner, began curating this event in the Champaign-Urbana area about three years ago, after noticing that drag performers did not have an appropriate platform to practice their craft.

Prior to her involvement, other members of the drag community ran similar pageant competitions at Chester Street, such as the Miss Chester Street pageant.

Calexus, also known on stage as Calexus Carrington, had a long history of performing in pageants before taking the position as the pageant’s owner. She explained her reasons for continuing to facilitate this vital experience within the Champaign-Urbana community.

“I started this because there wasn’t a pageant scene in the area,” Calexus said. “I wanted to provide performers with the opportunity to participate in pageants because I understood what it did for me.”

Wilder elaborated on how Miss Gay Illinois State is a state-level pageant, though most pageants have entry levels. Wilder said it doesn’t take them to a national title, but it has a prize package where contestants can win a crown, jewelry and show bookings.

These bookings occur several times per year at a set fee in which contestants are able to entertain, Wilder explained.

Later in the year, Miss Gay Illinois State is followed by the Mister Gay Illinois State pageant, which Wilder described as the same thing, only for male performers and male impersonators.

Two male performers took part in this year’s pageant. Their stage names are Kato Barr Mann and Bo Daschuss. Each performed several dance and lip sync routines.

Mia Schott, whose stage name is Mimi Vancartier, was last year’s pageant winner. She discussed how she choose her makeup, accessories and attire for last year’s pageant.

“There’s a set look for pageantry. It’s gotta be big,” Schott said.

With regard to the judging criteria and personal style choices, Wilder elaborated on how each system is different.